Territory



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

I H. D.- DIBBLE.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC PROPULSION. No. 406,391. Patented July 2, 1889..

/n N. w/ 7 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. D. DIBBLE.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC PROPULSION.

No. 406,391. Patented July 2,1889.

A T [DRIVE Y 8.

N. wrrzns Photo-Lithographer, Washington, D. a.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY D. DIBBLE, OF ROOHFORD, DAKOTA TEERITORY.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC PROPULSION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,391, dated July 2,1889.

Application filed February 2,1889. Serial No. 298,449. (No model.)

- trical conductors and the devices for transmitting the current fromthe conductors to the motor of the wagon. Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation looking toward the front of the wagon, the steering-wheelbeing removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is aplan view of thesteering-gear; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of thetrolley which runs upon the wire and takes off the current.

Similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all theviews.

The object of my invention is to provide a system of electricalpropulsion for common roads, by means of which traffic may be carried onwithout the necessity of employing a railway-track, and to so arrangethe steeringgear that the wagon will automatically run parallel with theline of the conductors.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, aswill be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The wagon-body A, to which my improvement is applied, is supported uponthe-axle B, which carries the drive-wheels O, and also upon acaster-wheel D, provided with a fork a, journaled in the forward end ofan extension E of the frame of the body A. Upon the axle B is mountedthe spur-wheel F, which is engaged by a pinion G upon thearmatureshaft 1) of the motor I-Lthe said motor being secured to themain frame of the body A. The shank c of the fork a extends upwardlythrough a sleeve d, placed loosely on the said shank, and upon the upperend of the shank c is mounted a steering-lever e, provided with a latchf, which engages a notched flange g upon the upper end of the sleeve d.Between the lower end of the sleeve cl and the extension E asprocket-wheel h is secured to the sleeve (1.

In the extension E, in front of the wagonbox I, is journaled the shaft2' of the fork J, and upon the said shaft is secured a sprocketwheel j,which receives an endless chain-K, passing around the sprocket-wheel hupon the shank 0.

Above the road-bed L are suspended elec-- trical conductors Z Z Z Z bymeans of L- shaped hooks'm, suspended from the bracket M, the saidbracket being supported by a pole N. These conductors are preferablylocated at a central point above the road-bed, and are supported by asmany poles N and brackets M as are necessary to give the conductors therequired rigidity.

Each wagon is provided with a trolley, O, which rides upon a pair of theconductors. In the present case the trolley is shown running upon theconductors Z Z trolley is provided with the cross-arms 0, which are eachfurnished with two pairs of vertical studs 19, upon which are placedrollers q, the rollers of each pair being adapted to roll upon oppositesides of the conductors Z Z and the frame is also provided with horizontal studs r r, projecting from opposite sides parallel with the arms0. The rollers q form vertical guides for the trolley and prevent itfrom leaving the conductors. Upon the studs 1' r are placed rollers s s,the rollers 8 being adapted to roll upon the conductor Z and the rollers5- being arranged to roll upon the conductor Z The studs M are insulatedfrom each other and from the frame or, and the conductors t t, whichlead to the brushes of the motor H,'com municate with the conductors Z ithrough the said rollers s s.

In the center of the trolley 0 there is a chamber it, provided with acap 1;. The shank w of the fork P extends through the frame of thetrolley through the chamber to and through the cap 1), and is providedwith a nut a, by which it is held in place. In the chamber u, and'surroundin g the shank w, is placed a spiral'spring b, one end of whichis attached to the shank w, the other being inserted in the cap Q7. Theoffice of this spring is to hold the fork P in its normal position whileallowing it to yield a certain amount in either direction.

In the fork P is pivoted a knuckle 0, pro- The frame n of the too videdwith a transverse aperture, which re ceives the right-angled end (1' ofthe inclined steering-rod Q. The opposite end of the rod Q is pivoted inthe fork J.

The drivers seat is supported by a spring f, secured to the extension E,between the sprocketewheels h j. The driver of the wagon is able toguide it, when desired, by turning the caster-wheel D in one directionor the other. By virtue of the connection between the shank c of thecaster-wheel and the shaft '5 of the fork J, the said wheel is turned soas to cause the wagon to move forward parallel with the conductors Z Z,maintaining its parallelism with the said conductors. Ordinarily thewagon will run in a line parallel with the conductors, being guided bythe movement of the steering-wheel caused by the connection therewith ofthe shaft '5, which is turned by the steering-rod Q, as the trolleyfollows the deviations from astraigh't line of the conductors, thedriver not being required to use the steering-lever 6, except when it isneedful to turn aside from any cause, and when so turned aside the wagoncan be made to run in a new line by placing the lever in one of the sidenotches of the flange g.

The yielding nature of the connection between the wagon and the trolleypermits of sufiicient movement of the wagon to allow one wagon to turnout for another upon the road, or to run at one side of the conductors,as indicated in Fig. 2. In this case the latch f is placed in one of thenotches in the flange g of the sleeve d, thus allowing the rod Q to takean oblique position, while the casterwheel remains parallel with thecourse of the wagon.

It is obvious that with a wagon having an electric motor of sufficientcapacity the wagon itself may be made to carry a load as well as topropel a train connected with it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent-- 1. I11 a system of electric propulsion for commonroads, the trolley having opposite front and rear pairs of verticalrollers, and horizontal rollers insulated from each other and from theframe or body, substantially as set forth.

2. I11 a system of electric propulsion for common roads, the trolleyconsisting in a frame, opposite depending front and rear pairs ofvertical rollers, opposite front and rear horizontal rollers insulatedfrom each other and the frame, and a central vertical shank jonrnaled inthe frame and having a fork on its lower end, substantially as setforth.

3. In a system of electric propulsion for common roads, the trolleyconsisting in a frame having a central vertical chamber apertured in itsbottom and having an apertured cap plate or cover, a shank extendingthrough said apertures and havingafork at its lower end, a springsurrounding the shank within the chamber and connected at its end withthe shank and cap plate, respect ively, opposite front and rear pairs ofvertical rollers depending from the frame, and opposite front and rearhorizontal rollers insulated from each other and the frame,substaniially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the overhead conductors and the trolleythereon, having a vertical shank j ournaled thereon, of a road-wagonhaving a motor connected with the trolley, a vertical shaft journaled onthe wagon, and a rod pivoted or hinged at its ends to said shank andshaft, substantially as set forth.

5. In a system of electric propulsion for common roads, the wagonprovided with drive-wheels and a steering-wheel having a vertical axisor shaft provided with a locking mechanism and a sprocket-wheel, avertical shaft between the drive and steering wheels, a sprocket-wheelthereon, a chain connecting said sprocket-wheels, a rod pivotallyconnected to the upper end of said second vertical shaft, and anelectric motor, the shaft of which is geared to the axle of thedrive-wheels, substantially as set forth.

6. In a system of electric propulsion. for common roads, the combinationof a trolley provided with the conductors If t, the vertical rollers q,and horizontal rollers s s, the wagon provided with a body A, the axleI3, drivewheels 1, caster-wheel D, motor H, and means for connecting themotor and the trolley, substantially as specified.

7. In a system of electric propulsion for common roads, the combinationof the suspended conductors Z P, the trolley provided with the frame nand chamber at, and having arms 0, the studs 19, and insulated studs 7'r, the rollers q, journaled on the studs 1), the rollers s s, journaledon the studs 0' r and adapted to roll on the conductors, the fork I,furnished with the shank w, journaled in the frame a, and the spring 1),connecting the frame a and the shank 10, substantially as specified. 7

S. In a system of electric propulsion for common roads, the combinationof the suspended conductors Z Z, the trolley provided with the frame 11and chamber u, and having arms 0, the studs 1), and insulated studs 0'r, the rollers q, journaled on the studs j), the rollers s s, journaledon studs 7" o" and adapted to roll on the conductors, the fork P,furnished with the shank w, journaled in the frame n, the spring 1),connecting the frame n and the shank w, the knuckle c, the rod Q,provided with the right-angled end (Z, the shaft 1', carrying theslotted fork J, the sprocket-wheel j, attached to the said shaft, thecaster-wheel D, the shank c, the sprocketwheel h, and the endless chainK, connecting the sprocket-wheels h j, substantially as specifled.

9. In a system of electrical propulsion, the combination, with overheadelectrical conductors, a trolley adapted to run thereon, a

wagon provided with an electric motor, and vertical shaft, and asteering-lever on the connections between said motor and conductshank ofthe caster-wheel, all arranged for 10 ors, of a caster-Wheel on theWagon, a sleeve operation as and for the purposes set forth.

on the shank of said caster-Wheel carrying a sprocket-Wheel, averticalshaft journaled on HARVEY D. DIBBLE. the wagon provided with asprocket-Wheel, a Vitnesses: belt connecting said sprocket-Wheels, asteer- J. H. GARNEY, ing-rod swiveled to the trolley and to the said D.L. H. EAMAN.

